Saturday, October 09, 2010

October 11-15
















Contact me by e-mail at:http://kbenoy@nvsd44.bc.ca/

Things that are static -- not requiring regular change -- can be found at my website: http://sites.google.com/site/kbenoy/ However, I'm afraid I do not update this regularly. I spend most of my time keeping the blog up to date.

This blogsite will have all of the changing material -- lesson plans and links to assignments. I will try to ensure that all assignments are posted here. If you see something underlined, it means that you can click on the item to have it appear. I will do this for all pdf documents, PowerPoints, videos, and even some music.

My tutorial times are officially 3:10 to 3:30 on Mondays and Fridays, however I am available most days before school, at noon and after school. Drop by or make an appointment if you need guaranteed time. I will respond to e-mails within a day at worst.

Social Studies 8

Expect the next unit test in around two weeks. However, be sure to be making and using your flash cards every day to master vocabulary and names. Your test on Rome will include the following: 40 multiple choice questions (1 mark each), 5 definition items (2 marks each) and 3 long answer questions (6 marks each). The total is, therefore, out of 68 marks. You can earn up to 5 bonus marks for submitting at least 25 correctly made flash cards (term or name only on the front and definition or why the person is important on the back) at the time of the exam. You may not hand these in late to earn marks; they must be submitted when you write the test.

Be sure to visit the BBC's Roman Empire pages. There is plenty of fascinating material to interest anyone interested in this ancient empire.

  • Monday, October 11 - Eat Turkey (or Tofu if you are so inclined) and relax. Enjoy the Thanksgiving break -- unless you are one of those who have not handed in all of their work -- you should catch up!
  • Tuesday, October 12 - Take up handout questions. Introduction to Ancient Religions: Paganism, Judaism, Mystery Cults and Christianity. Watch Ancient Roman Religion. (On your own, watch this tongue-in-cheek account of Roman Religion - History With a Twist of Lime; The Early Roman Religion. You might not get all the jokes, or you might find them cheesy, but the information about Roman religion is good and at 7:00 minutes, it is an easy review.) We will also watch two more short clips that examine Pagan influences on early Christianity: Mithras - Pagan Origins of Christianity and Osiris - Pagan Origins of Christianity. Be sure to list things that seem to be common to these pagan religions and Christianity. Read pp. 6-10. Do #1-6, p. 10 for homework. Don't forget to complete the Architecture Hunt assignment.
  • Wednesday, October 13 - Hand in the Architecture Huntassignment. Take up #1-6, p. 10. Watch The Western Tradition; Early Christianity (you may need to register to use this resource -- but this is American public television and they do not sell your contact information, so it is safe for you to do so) and do the questions. Assignment: Conversion to Christianity -- Imagine that you are a young Greek person living in the city of Rome. Write a letter to your parents in Athens explaining why you have decided to give up worshiping the old Greek Gods and become a Christian. You will have to find out something about both Ancient Greek religion and early Christianity to do this. The assignment will be marked out of 10 and will be marked on both content and composition. It is due next class. Note: When we deal with religion in this course it is not with the intention of supporting one religious view over another. What we want to do is to understand basic beliefs of each religion and know something about the impact that any particular religion has had on the world. We do this using an historical approach.
  • Thursday, October 14 - Hand in the Conversion to Christianity assignment. Video Legions of Rome (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3) andquestions. Read pp. 10-12. Do #1-6, p. 12. You might enjoy playing a small game from the BBC - Romans vs. Britons.
  • Friday, October 15 - Take up #1-6, p. 12. Look at the sidebar on p. 11. Video: Constantine and questions. Read pp. 12-16. Do #1-6, p. 16. Bring coloured pencils to next class for map work.
Social Studies 11

We just completed a big unit test and we will now finish our last Government unit - a short one on Provincial and Municipal government. You will receive a take-home test on Friday -- to be returned next Monday. We will, however, start the History unit on Friday, before you receive the test. Flash card marks will not be added to this test, though it is a very good idea to continue making and using flash cards to use in reviewing before the provincial final exam.

There is a major research assignment starting now, theFamily History - Immigration Assignment (With additional options for International and First Nations students.) The due date for this work is not until right after the Christmas holidays, to allow plenty of time for research and discussion with family members.)

  • Monday, October 11 - Eat turkey (or Tofu if you are so inclined) and relax -- unless you have incomplete work to submit!
  • Tuesday, October 12 - Take up homework. Comparison of BC Provincial and Federal systems of Government. Video BC's Government House. Watch this video on the work of an MLA -- Having Your Say Through Your MLA. While doing so, do the following: 1) note the tasks that an MLA is expected to do, and 2) List similarities and differences between the setup of the Provincial Legislature and the Federal Parliament. Download and read Welcome to the House to fill in any gaps and to better understand the workings of provincial government. You might also like to look at other brochures and documents from this website. Government (red) texts. Read pp. 170-178. Do #1-3, p. 178. Note: Municipal Government will be tested using a take home test on Friday.
  • Wednesday, October 13 - Take up homework, #1-3, p. 178. Municipal government introduced. Video & questions on Provincial and Municipal Government. Read (red book) pp. 186-196. Do #1-6, p 196. Read (blue book) pp. 245-246. Do #2-4, p. 246.
  • Thursday, October 14 - Take up #1-6, p 196 (red book) and #2-4, p. 246 (blue book). Take up homework. Discuss Aboriginal self-government. Mayor Mussatto's PowerPoint on Municipal affairs. Write a paragraph to a page explaining why we should study History. 10 marks. Due next class.
  • Friday, October 15 - Introduction to History. Family History and Immigration Assignment or alternative (see above) assigned and explained. Take home test assigned. Read pp. 10-20. Do #1-4, p. 16 & #1-6, pp. 19-20.
History 12